1st Masters

Hellp all,
I am a second year student reading PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) at the Uni of York. I would like to apply for a Masters once I graduate but have no idea whatsoever of how to go about that. As of right now I am not sure what I want to do, but I would like to apply to Harvard, Yale-the best schools, provided I get my first. I would also like to apply to the UK-but how?
Thanks! :smile:

Reply 1

rottcodd

3

There is no centralised UCAS-type thing like in undergraduate - you apply direct to the university. Just go to the website of the degree you're interested in applying for - they'll have an application form where you'll have to write another personal statement type thing (but this time completely academic and about the course). You'll also have to obtain two references from your current tutors. Usually you apply in your third year. You just need to look on the website of the degree really, it will tell you all you want to know on there.

It's a bit mad that you don't know what you want to do your masters in, and yet you know where you want to go. It's best that you figure what exactly you want to specialise in, and then look for courses which offer it. There's no point going to Harvard if the course isn't as useful to you as somewhere else.

Reply 2

tallpoppy

OP

Thank you for your reply!

I know that I should know what I want to do, but the truth is that I have so much choice, which just makes it harder, and right now all I want to do is procrastinate. The only thing which makes me want to actually think about studying further is the place where I might actually go to learn. I know its backwards and I know it doesn't help at all-but it's my mind!

I hope that eventually I will learn.

Reply 3

rottcodd

3

Yeah, I know the feeling - I am still not completely decided myself. Your in your second year though so you've still got time to think about it some more before applying. Just don't lock yourself into thinking you'll be going to Harvard to study, they might not even end up offering a masters course in an area you're interested in.

Reply 4

tallpoppy

OP

Yesterday I thought that I have time, then today talking to some 3rd years they told me that I should start now applying for masters and/or jobs-graduate programmes, etc. And that scared me-I just want to do my degree and nothing else! But I suppose doing some reseach won't actually do me harm and I don't particularly want to start working as soon as I graduate!

I wish it was easy!

Reply 5

hobnob

14

tallpoppy

Yesterday I thought that I have time, then today talking to some 3rd years they told me that I should start now applying for masters and/or jobs-graduate programmes, etc.

They told you to start applying for master's degrees (as opposed to researching them) when you're not even in your final year yet? Why? :confused:

Anyway, you've still got plenty of time, so there's no need for you to be worried. First make up your mind as to whether you want to do a postgraduate degree at all, and if so, which area of your subject you're sufficiently interested in to want to do a master's degree. Once you've got that sorted out, you can start looking around for appropriate courses, but you won't actually need to start applying until you're in your final year.

Reply 6

Paulwhy

13

tallpoppy

Hellp all,
I am a second year student reading PPE (politics, philosophy and economics)

What are you thinking of doing your masters in?

Reply 7

forpolarbears

17

Masters in what? Harvard & co aren't fans of masters, minus the MPA (which is not held in very high regard at most places according to the people on the internet/etc)

Reply 8

Bismarck

13

Masters degrees are considered professional degrees, especially in the US, and the likelihood of getting into Harvard or Yale without some relevant work experience and publications is not very high. If you do want to go there, I'd do everything in your power to get published before next December (application deadlines for most American schools).

Also, American schools don't care too much about your grades. Getting a first will be a plus, but it's not going to be the difference maker. You'd also need to take a GRE (google it if you don't know what that is). And keep in mind that most masters degree will set you back $70-80k in tuition alone.

Reply 9

Socrates

17

Bismarck

Mas I'd do everything in your power to get published

How'd you "get published"? :redface:

Reply 10

Bismarck

13

Socrates

How'd you "get published"? :redface:

Figure out something you'd like to do original research on. Look at peer-reviewed journals that cover the same general area. Read articles by other people who wrote on the same (or similar) topic. Then write a piece engaging with those other opinions and show why your views are more accurate or cover a wider area (dismissing prominent opposing ideas out of hand is bad form). Then get in touch with the journal you chose and see if they like your article (it usually takes a few months for them to respond). If they like it, they'll usually suggest revisions you should make (the list is often substantial). Then you revise your paper and resubmit it. If the editors like it, it gets published (usually in several more months). Easier said than done obviously. It would of immense help to have a professor guide you through the process. I haven't done it personally, so I'm basing this on what others told me.

Reply 11

Socrates

17

Masters in the UK seem like A levels in comparison :eek3:

Reply 12

Bismarck

13

Socrates

Masters in the UK seem like A levels in comparison :eek3:

Because a masters (in IR) in the UK is viewed differently. Lots of colleges offer it in the UK, while only a handful of elite colleges offers it in the US. Back when I was applying for a masters, every college I talked to here said that they want at least a year of relevant experience. For places like Harvard and Yale, you would need managerial experience or some fairly high position in a political campaign, development agency, or international organization.

Also, people should not apply for a masters just because it is (in case you cannot tell, my apostrophe is not working) a higher degree than a bachelors, though that is definitely the trend in Britain. If you want to be in the field of politics or IR in the long term, I would highly suggest getting a doctorate degree. It only takes 2-3 extra years, is far cheaper (you get paid for getting a doctorate in most colleges), and gives you the type of clout that a masters would not. I would also aim a bit lower. You can't imagine the type of people who are applying for degrees in places like Harvard and Yale.

Reply 13

addagrrr8

1

Socrates

How'd you "get published"? :redface:

if your asking that question dont apply for a masters!!

Reply 14

psyc_postgrad

1

addagrrr8

if your asking that question dont apply for a masters!!

Why? I'm sure that the vast majority of students on masters courses haven't had any articles published in an academic journal and that many wouldn't know exactly how to go about submitting something for publication.

Reply 15

tallpoppy

OP

Thank you guys all so much!!! You have all been so helpful.

Paulwhy-I have no idea at all. I think that's why having read everyhting I reaslise that I have been slightly premature in deciding that I want to do a Masters

Yup hobnob-apply-no wonder I am so scared!

Bismarck-I am most definetly one of those people-seriously. Masters to me is just something that I want to do because loads of people have done it. I know that that is completely the wrong attitude and it is finally kind of sinking in because it is going to be expensive and hard. Is doing a doctoare better? I thought you need a MA to do that?

$70-80k in tuition alone-it is really that expensive?? What do they teach you? How to turn base metals into gold? Are the people who apply there really that bad?

Reply 16

Eubacterium

13

Bismarck

Also, people should not apply for a masters just because it is (in case you cannot tell, my apostrophe is not working) a higher degree than a bachelors, though that is definitely the trend in Britain. If you want to be in the field of politics or IR in the long term, I would highly suggest getting a doctorate degree. It only takes 2-3 extra years, is far cheaper (you get paid for getting a doctorate in most colleges), and gives you the type of clout that a masters would not. I would also aim a bit lower. You can't imagine the type of people who are applying for degrees in places like Harvard and Yale.

It's a lot harder to accepted onto a PhD.

Many are not funded (harder to attain funding in ARTS for than in science also).

It often takes more than 3 years (never heard of 2) and not everyone's thesis gets accepted.

A person may have to leave if they don't get results in the first year.

Doing a masters makes getting accepted onto and doing a PhD more easier, I know as I'm doing an MSc and I'm learning a lot which is essential for a PhD that was never covered in my first degree. Also I'm gaining a lot of practical experience that undergraduates wouldn't have.

Many people do masters because they want cover their subject of interest in more depth, a PhD would be more specialised and involves mostly research with little or no teaching. Not everyone wants that format.

Reply 17

Bismarck

13

Eubacterium

It's a lot harder to accepted onto a PhD.

Many are not funded (harder to attain funding in ARTS for than in science also).

It often takes more than 3 years (never heard of 2) and not everyone's thesis gets accepted.

A person may have to leave if they don't get results in the first year.

Doing a masters makes getting accepted onto and doing a PhD more easier, I know as I'm doing an MSc and I'm learning a lot which is essential for a PhD that was never covered in my first degree. Also I'm gaining a lot of practical experience that undergraduates wouldn't have.

Many people do masters because they want cover their subject of interest in more depth, a PhD would be more specialised and involves mostly research with little or no teaching. Not everyone wants that format.

I was referring to American programs. :smile:

Reply 18

yufli

megx

Masters in what? Harvard & co aren't fans of masters, minus the MPA (which is not held in very high regard at most places according to the people on the internet/etc)